Double-Signed <i>Cuckoo’s Calling</i> to be Auctioned for Charity at Sotheby’s London
Sotheby’s London will offer for sale on 10th December 2013 the only copy of The Cuckoo’s Calling signed twice by the author—as both J.K. Rowling and her pseudonym Robert Galbraith (est. £2,000-£3,000). This unique first edition of the internationally bestselling crime novel written by J.K. Rowling, as Robert Galbraith, was given to friend Margaret Darling to aid with fundraising for the charity EdUKaid, a UK-based charity that works with children, their families and schools in rural Tanzania, Africa.
Margaret Darling noted that “Jo knows the value of education. She was a teacher. Her very special gift will allow EdUKaid and the community to put desks, water, sanitation, blackboards into schools like Mnaida. It costs approximately £30,000 to transform a school and it also gives work to locals in an area where people scratch a hard living from the earth. The villagers and the children have little except hope. Our aspiration is for Sotheby’s auction, which will be seen around the world, to help to see some of those hopes realised.”
The story of how this unique edition came to auction began with a trip that Margaret Darling took to visit friends working in Mikindani in Southern Tanzania. It was there that she met an EdUKaid worker and witnessed the amazing charity work they were doing at Mnaida primary school. A ‘hands on charity’ that works with rural communities in Tanzania, they improve the teaching and learning environment within small villages. EdUKaid works towards transforming schools and communities through the employment of local people and the building of classrooms, upgrading schools, as well as providing vital educational services, resources and support. Inspired by the work of the charity, on her return to the UK, Margaret decided to take on that particular school she had visited as a project.
More on EdUKaid
Established in 2003 and a UK registered charity, EdUKaid works with children, their families and schools in the rural, poor Mikindani/Mtwara region of Tanzania.
EdUKaid believes that educating children is key to ensuring a country’s long-term development prosperity. They believe in a grassroots, community driven approach and therefore are committed to developing the skills of local people in the delivery their projects.
In Tanzania EdUKaid are registered as a locally based NGO (Registration Number 0027) and currently employ 21 local people, with an ever growing team as their projects develop. The invaluable local (Tanzanian) staff coordinate and deliver all of their projects, employ local labour, source the right materials, and engage the local communities where EdUKaid work.
Fundraising Event: Sunshine on Mikindani: http://www.justgiving.com/maggie-darling.
